Steampunk, Smoke and Steam-Powered Grit – A Sunday at Claymills
This past Sunday, I had the pleasure of joining a photo shoot organised by the brilliant Harriet of Harriet SFX. True to form, she brought her usual mix of boundless energy, steely organisation, and creative genius to the day, and once again, it paid off.
The theme? Steampunk. The setting? The utterly magnificent Claymills Victorian Pumping Station, a place that hums with history and smells faintly of oil and effort. It’s the sort of place that makes you want to grab your camera before you’ve even parked the car properly.
Two volunteers from the Claymills team generously gave their time on the day, not only helping us navigate the space, but even setting one of the machines to release a dramatic puff of steam for our shots. That moment alone was worth the trip. These two are part of a much larger team who pour countless unpaid hours into restoring and maintaining the station’s machinery, most of which actually works. That’s no small feat. They spoke warmly about Severn Trent, who own the site and have apparently been nothing but supportive in letting the restoration work continue.
The shoot itself ran for two hours with a quick breather in the middle. The weather, for once, behaved. No rain. No searing sun. Just a slice of decent British summer that let us work without rushing or overheating.
Our models, Ivy, Storm, Lisa, Ollie and Mark, were phenomenal. Fully kitted in steampunk finery, they threw themselves into every look, pose, and location. The grit, grime, and gleam of the setting paired perfectly with their elaborate gear and bold energy. Each model brought something different to the frame, and every photographer left with something strong.
As for Harriet, what can I say that hasn’t already been said a dozen times before? She’s a force. She kept the shoot flowing smoothly, ensured every photographer had equal time, and somehow managed to still be helpful and enthusiastic while juggling about a hundred moving parts. If you’ve ever worked with her, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
It was a cracking afternoon with a solid group of creatives, all collaborating in one of the most photogenic industrial relics I’ve had the pleasure of shooting in. I’ll be sharing some of the resulting shots soon, watch this space.
Now, a quick note: images from this shoot are not for sale. This was an organised event and I do not have commercial releases from the models. These images are purely for portfolio and personal showcase.
© Catherine Knee 2025